Turkey celebrates Victory Day on 96th anniversary

Turkey on Thursday celebrated the 96th anniversary of Victory Day, which commemorates the resounding defeat of the Greek forces at hands of the Anatolian people in the Battle of Dumlupınar in 1922.

Turkey was occupied by allied forces after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War (1914-1918).

The imperialist occupation with the collaboration of Ottoman sultan prompted Turkey’s War of Independence in 1919, in which Turkish forces -- led by Gen. Mustafa Kemal -- eventually drove the invaders from Anatolia.

From Aug. 26 to Aug. 30 of 1922, Turkish forces fought the Battle of Dumlupınar (considered part of the Greco-Turkish War) in Turkey’s western Kütahya province, where Greek forces were decisively defeated.

By the end of 1922, all foreign forces had left the territories which would collectively become the new Republic of Turkey one year later.